The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-01-01
HOW TO KEEP HOUSE,
a Brief But Wise, Treatise on a Subject o
Great Interest.

II
Great Interest.
Women are always somewhat super
sensitive about their work. There is
probably no point on which this super
sensitiveness is more displayed than
that of housekeeping. To be called a
"slack" housekeeper stings a woman
to the quick, no matter how deserved
the impeachment may be; yet the mo-
ment woman does that she is exciting
herself in her housekeeping to do more
than she otherwise would for fear that
'peOple will talk" that moment she
begins to endanger her whole theory of
life. 1t is this keeping house so as to
please society and to placate 1.-The neigh
bors" which is at the bottom of much
of the oyerwork and the belittling of the
mind, which are the bane of house
keepers.
Don't try 20 keep your house too
clear" says a clever writer, ''or else
step-mother will bring up your chill
dren."
This simple but interesting presenta-
ton of the matter throws a flood of
light upon it. 1t intimates that a
housekeeper has duties besides keeping
house and paramount to that one.
A housekeeper is usually wife. A
wife, besides seeing that her husband
has clean rooms to live in, well-cooked
meals and neat clothes, should make
herself companion for him. His
mind is usually sharpened 10y activity
in business or professional life. She
must see to it that her mind is kept as
sharp as possible, byreading and study.
She should try to remain, so far as her
effort can 90, what she probably was
in the days of their courtship-the
most interest ng person in the world for
him to be with. Above all things, she
must keep herself well and strong, or
else good spirits, which are the most
charming attributes in either man or
woman, will be lacking.
Then she is usually a mother. Her
children are full of questions. They
desire her companionship and her con
versation. Whose else can be 50 good
for them as hers? She should see to 1t
that they have those in full measure and
of good quality.
She is also a member of some social
circle. The greatest work. that women
can do to improve the social fabric is,
of course, in the home; but there are
many outside duties which no self-re-
speeding woman should neglect, and fol
which She should save q portion of her
time and strength.
The keeping of the house. then, is
only one of several vocations of the
house-keeper, and subordinate to those
of the wife, the mother and the sociaI
being, That is to say, the keeping o.
the house in which family and friends
are to be fed and sheltered is only g
means to the securing of their health
and happiness. just as soon as woman
: begins to think of the cleaning anC
. cooking as ends in themselves, and de
votes herself to them to such an extern
that her usefulness in higher spheres il
impaired, she is making a mistake
Keep the balance true. Remember tina
; the objects of our earthly toll are t
keep our loved ones well and happy
D Relegate conversation about the house
hold affairs to the background, unles
the humorous side is uppermost Sel
that good meals, plain and substantial
; are served, no matter what cleaning o
= other work is going on. Do not tir
Yourself out with trying to do doubl
; work in q day. BY system this can b
c avoided. Never mind what the neigh
; borsn say. Keep continually in min
that you are keeping house not for tn
Il sake of keeping house, but to max
homes i'm which husbands and childre
i and friends shall thrive and rejoice cor
+ tinually.-Kate Epson Clarke, IN CHI
9 caqO Inter- ocean.